Valve-operating mechanism.



A. M. HOUSER. VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1o, 1908.

Patented June 1,1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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A. M. HUUSER. VALVE GPERATING MEGHANISM. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 10, 1908.

Patented June 1,1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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A. M. HoUsER. y VALVE OPERATING MBGHANISM. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 10 1908. 923,526, Patented June 1, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Il) Ij I mvslfl'ron i? ym A. M. HOUSER. VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1908. 923,526.

Patented June 1, 1909.

WITNESSES INVENTOR 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

ARTHUR M. HOUSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CRANE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. HoUsER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Operating Mechanisms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to valve operating mechanisms, and has for its objects, the provision of an improved form of lost motion mechanism, for permitting the operating means to get under way before power is applied to open the valve 3 the provision of a compact, simple and inexpensive lost motion device of the type speciiied; and the provision of improved friction means for braking the operating parts. Certain embodiments of the -invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side/elevation of the valve' with the operating mechanismapplied thereto, the operating mechanism being shown in section,

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the operating mechanism,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section on theline III-III of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the lost motion mechanism alone, taken either on the line IV-IV of. Figure 2 or the line IV-IV of Figure 6,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the valve provided with a slightly different form of operating mechanism. 4

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section through the operating mechanism of the valve of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the valve of Figure 5, taken at right angles to such figure, the operating mechanism being shown in section.

Referring first to the form of device as shown in Figures 1, 2,3, and 4, 1 is the casing, 2 is the bonnet mounted upon the casing, 3 is the valve carried by the threaded valve stem, 4, 5 is an electric motor whichlis mounted upon the side of the yoke or stand 2a mounted in turn upon the bonnet, 6 is the switch for controlling the motor, 7is the operating nut for the stem 4, which operating nut is swiveled in the yoke (Figure 2), 8 is the hand operating wheel, and Q is'the friction band brake.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June'i, .1909. f

It will be seen that the rotation of the swiveled nut 7 raises and lowers the valve stem 4, and its valve 3. This nut 7 is rotated from the motor 5 bv means of the spur gears 10, 11, 12 and 13 (Figure l); and the lost motion connection between the gear 13 and the nut 7, constitutes an important feature of the invention, and will now be described. Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the gear 13 is mounted rotatively upon the nut 7 and is recessed upon its interior to carry the collar 1-4. This collar 14 (Figure 4) is mounted to rotate freely in the gear 13, and is provided with the lugs 15 and 16,- the lug 16 being adaptedtotake against a lug 17 on the gear 13, and the lug 15 being adapted to take 4against the lug 18 on the operating nut 7. It will be seen that when the gear 13 is turned in the Adirection of the arrow (Figure 4), such member must rotate nearly a full revolution before the lug 1'7 takes against the lug 16, and that the ring or collar 14 with its lug 15 must rotate nearly a .full revolution before such lug 15 takes against the lug 18 on the nut 7, so that lost motion to the eX- tent ofnearly two revolutions is secured, and the motor 5 may be started and the gear 13 given nearly two revolutions before a positive engagement tending to lift the valve stem and valve is secured. In this manner the motor is enabled to acquire headway before the resistance of opening thevalve is thrown thereon, and a much smaller motor*v may of course be used than is the case where a direct and positive connection is used.

The collar 14 is held in place (Figure 2) by means of the cap 19 which is screw threaded yto the nut 7, and is provided withthe annu- -lar rib 20 upon its under side for iittmg between the ring or collar 14-and the inner surface of the gear 13. The gear also carries the handwheel 8 which is preferably secured thereto as indicated in Figure 2.

In order to prevent the motor from running at too high a rate of speed after the `valve has been moved fromits seat, and the `heavy work accomplished, the friction brake illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3 is provided. The ends of the band pass through the two blocks 21 and 22, which blocks are secured together by means of the screws 23. The blocks are anchored in position on the yoke by means of the two studs 24, which the to of the yoke. The ends of the band are heid in position by means of the nuts 25, and these ends are held yieldingly in operation by means of the springs 26 fitting in the recesses in the blocks 21 and 22. friction member 27 is interposed between the brake band 9, and the collar 28. The collar 2S is not secured directly to the nut 7 but has a lost motion connection therewith so that the nut may turn nearly one revolution before the collar 28 is positively engaged thereby. -In order to accomplish this result the collar 2S is provided on its inner periphery with the projecting' lug 29, which lug is adapted to take against the lug 30, on to the outer periphery of the nut 7 when such lug 2.() has made nearly a full revolution. The purpose of this lost motion connection is similar to that of the lost motion connection heretofore described for driving the nut?, viz., it increases the opportunity of the motor to get under headway before the additional resistance supplied by the brake is encountered. The tension on the band 9 may be tightened by screwing in the nuts 25 upon the ends of theband. It will be seen that by the foregoing arrangement uniformity throughout the opening and closing movements is secured. A series motor is preferably employed in order to secure a powerful torque during the starting move-ment of the valve, at which time the resistance due to sticking vis the greatest, and because of the subsequent reduction in resistance, the tendency of the mot-or is to run at a higher rate of speed and jam the valve parts at the end of their movement. The use of the brake avoids this difculty by controlling the speed of the motor and holding it to its normal' speed, thereby avoiding `a shock or blow greater than is required to close the valve tight; also making it easier to start the valve in the opposite direction.

The construction in Figures 5, 6, and '7 is very similar to that of the form of device already described, the principal difference lying in the omission of the friction brake. A

still further distinction resides in the fact that the handwheel 8 is secured to the cap 19; and so turns the nut 7 directly as opposed to the arrangement in the constru c'tion of Figures l, 2, 3, and 4, wherein the -hand- .wheel 8 is secured to the gear member 13 and is therefore adapted to turn the nut 7 only after the lost motion has been taken up. The force required for the hand operation of the construction of Figures 6, 7 and 8 is obviously greater than that required for the hand operation of the other form of device. It will be seen that in other respects the valves and their operating mechanisms are substantially the same.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and The usual i extend through the blocks and down into I desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following l. ln combination, a reciprmfatory valve, a stem therefor, rotary means engaging the stem and adapted by its rotation to reciprocate the valve, a motor for operating the rotary means, and a friction brake for checking the movement of the rotary means and operative. substantially throughout the movement of said valve.

:ln combination, a reciprocatory valve, a stem therefor, rotary means engaging the stem and adapted by its rotation to reciprocate the valve, an electric seriesmotor for operating the rotary means, and a friction brake for el'iecliing the movement of the rotary .means and operative substantially throughont the movement of said valve.

3. in combination, a reciprocatory valve, a stem therefor, rotary means engaging the stem `and adapted by its rotation to reciprocate the valve, a motor for operating the rotary' means, a retarding member having lost motion connection with the rotary means, and a friction brake for the retarding member.

Ll. In combination, a reciproeatory valve, a stem therefor, rotary means engaging the stem and adapted by its rotation to reciprocate the valve, a motor for operating the rotary means, a retarding member having lost motion connection `with the rotary means, and a friction brake for the retarding member and operative substantially throughout the movement of said valve.

1n combination, a reciprocatory valve, a stem therefor, rotary means engaging the stem and adapted by its rotation to reciprocate the valve, a motor for operating the rotary means, a collar having lost motion connection with the rotary means, and a friction brake for the Collar.

6. The combination with a reciprocatory valve, of a 'rotary member for reci rocating the valve', a motor for operating t 1e rotary member, and a'friction brake for restraining the movement of the parts and operative substantially throughout the movement of said valve. V

i The combination with a valve having a threaded stem and swiveled operating nut, of

a recessed operating member, an independent rotatable collar seat-ed in the recess and having a lost motion connection with the operating member and with the operating nut and a cap for the recess screw threaded onto the operating nut and provided with an annular* ridge for engaging and guiding the outer surface of the collar.

8. The combination with a gate valve having a threaded stem, a swiveled operating nut for the stem, and an electric operating motor, of a recessed gear swiveled on the nut, and having connection with the motor, a collar rotatably mounted in the recess in the gear, projecting lugs on the inner and outer signed my name in the presence of the two eripherielsc,l of the ollar, am copemting subscribed Witnesses. u s on t e 'recesse ear an nut 7res ec Y tiely for engaging the ugs on the collannd A' M HOUSER' 5 roviding vlost motion driving connections Witnesses: etween the parts'. l A. J. RICHARDSON, In testimony whereof Iv have hereunto .W. E. PETERSON. 

